`Local Hero` Helps Northern Illinois Hold Off Eastern

Thirty-six of his biggest fans made the short trek to Charleston, Ill., Monday night to cheer on Phil Leib.

Leib, a 6-4 guard forward and the only senior on this year`s Northern Illinois basketball team, made their trip worthwhile.

Leib, who grew up in nearby Flora, had scored just 20 points in his entire NIU career.

But Monday night he came through with a career-high 10 points, including 4 of 4 free throw attempts in the last 1:29 to help the Huskies beat Eastern Illinois 66-59.

Northern got balanced scoring from Donald Whiteside with 12 points, Donnell Thomas with 11 and Stacy Arrington with 10 to improve to 15-10.

The Huskies grabbed a 23-21 halftime lead, went up 56-45 late in the second half and held on by converting 12 of 13 free throws in the last 1:29.

Eastern (10-15) was led by Barry Johnson with 24 points and Steve Rowe with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

``Eastern`s defense was geared toward Donnell,`` said NIU coach Jim Molinari. ``When they take him away, other people have to score and we had that tonight. It was a great victory in a tough place to play.``

- Deeeefense: The Huskies are ranked No. 5 in the nation in team defense, allowing only 60.8 points a game, and Saturday night`s 63-55 victory over Chicago State did nothing to hurt that average. But the thing that really pleased Molinari was the way NIU picked apart Chicago State`s zone defense.

``That`s the best we`ve attacked a zone all year,`` he said.

- The incredible shrinking bench: The Huskies have lost two more players. Sophomore Brent Varner quit the team for personal reasons and freshman Mike Beck suffered a sprained left knee and is out for the season. c8 Molinari on junior Andrew Wells: ``He`s explosive. He`s probably quicker than any 6-7 player around, especially on the inside. He jumps twice before anyone else jumps once.``

- The 18th-ranked Lady Huskies (22-4, 11-0) have the week off before concluding their North Star Conference schedule Sunday at Wisconsin-Green Bay. Ballhawk Dee Dee Jeske recorded seven steals in 14 minutes in NIU`s 116-58 victory over Illinois-Chicago Sunday. Senior Carol Owens, the Huskies` all-time leading scorer, moved to within two points of 2,000 career points with a 27-point effort. She`s also only 12 rebounds shy of 1,000.

Coach Jane Albright`s team still leads the nation in scoring (93 points a game) and is second in team free-throw shooting (.773).